Articulated beam structure



July 22, 1958 Filed Dec'. 51. l1952 A nil h 5 Il O .dn "un a I y Jply `22, 1958 M. LE RQY ARTICULATED BEAM STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 51. 1952 July 22, 1958 M. LE ROY 4 2,844,232

ARTICULATED BEAM STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 51, 1952 5 sheets-sheets July 222, 1958 'MQ LE ROY 2,844,232

ARTICULA'IfE) BEAM STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 31, 1952 y 5 SheetsjSheet 4 21 u w *'32 F' '30 u iff/11 July 22, 1958 M. LE ROY 2,844,232

ARTICULATED BEAM STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 51, 1952 5 sheets-,sheet 5 Fig. 14

2,844,232 ARTICULA'IED BEAM STRUCTURE Michel Le Roy, Paris, France Application December 31, 1952, Serial No. 328,875

Claims priority, application France March 21, 1952 4 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) The present invention relates to girders, and more particularly to improvements in girders consisting of rigid elements or links connected with one another and in means for rigidly erecting a g'irder of such type by assembling such elements and for spreading the elements to their initial form after disconnecting certain elements of the ginder from one another.

The object of this inventionis to provide lan improved device comprising the component elements of a hinged girder and enabling either the stowing or transport of these elements wound up in the form of a unit of relatively reduced over-all dimensions, or the erection of the glrder to its operative condition and the winding ythereot` to its inoperative condition.

States Patent of the. lateral elements so as to form in the assembled conditlon of these elements a triangular-sectioned rigid nections along the four sides of the elements forming the mediate row and alternate permanent andreleasable vhin-ged connections between the elements forming the lateral rows with a one-element staggering between the opposite rows. The other hinged connections of these lateral elements are of the releasable type and the .assembling is eiected as the lateral lelements are folded toward one -another at the outlet of the reeling apparatus. Thus, the pivoting or swinging of the lateral elements in directions at right angles to the axis of the erected girder lwhen the latter is folded to its triangular-section Vcondition or unfolded to a flatribbon-like assembly is facilitated because there always is a permanent hingelike connection of two links from one or ythe -other lateral row to form' two axial extensions of a hinge-like connection between two element-s of the mediate row.

vIn addition, the hinged connections'may be so arranged that ras the elements are unfolded to -form a at assembly a prestressing thereof is produced, `each of these hinged connections being provided with male and female parts forming together when assembled a head adapted The tiltable apparatus for winding up land paying out vthis girder comprises the followingimprovements:

The rotary barrel on which the chain of elements is stored is driven through the control of a pair of band brakes operative in opposite directions kof rotation for v v-to be compressed by a iixed guide member at the top of the girder.

A 2,844,232 Patented July 22, 1958 ICC paying off or Winding up the interconnected elements, respectively;

The invention includes cam means equal in number `with the number of lateral rows of elements, disposed symmetrically with respect to the 4girder axis and operative on the lateral rows of elements` for folding and unfolding the same;

A detachable fitting guide member is disposed on the barrel-carrying framework above the aforesaid cam members and comprises rollers adapted to exert a resilient pressure on the engaged elements;

A reducing gear drives an endless chain provided with lugs adapted to engage the elements to drive sam-ein either direction.

'Other details of the improved hinged-element girder and girder-developing apparatus according to the invention willbecome apparent as the following description proceeds with reference to the axed drawings forming part of this specification. VIn the drawings:

Figure 1 isa diagrammatical plan View of a group of hingedly connected elements in developed or flat, partlyfolded, and closed conditions respectively.

' Figure 2 san end View of the group shown in Fig. 1.

=Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a front view and a section along line IV-IV of Fig. 3; showing constructional details of an element belonging to the mediate row.

'Figures 5 and 6 are similar views showing `constructional details of an element belonging to a lateral row.

Figures 7 to 9 are detail views showing the interlocking of two pairs of lateral elements folded vback towards each other.

Figure 10 is a side-elevational view showing girder developing means, the girder elements being shown only in dotted lines to simplify the drawing. Y v

-Figures 11, l2 and 13 are an end view, a horizontal section and an axial section, respectively, of the winding drum.

lFigure 14 illustrates diagrammatically the mechanism acting on .the component elements of the structure when in their spread, attened condition, for folding the lateral elements towards each other about their hinged connections.

As clearly shown in Fig. l, the hinged-girder elements comprise a number of identical rectangular panel-like elements 1 pivotally attached to one another along their longer 'sides through hinged -connections 2.V These elements 1 will thus constitute together a ribbon-like structure, and hinged connections are also formed along their smaller sides, as s'hown. Lateral elements 4a and 4b are attached through the lateral hinged connections 3 positioned on the right-hand side of the gure to the elements of the mediate row, and other lateral elements '6a and 6b are attached through the lateral hinged connections 5 positioned on the left-hand side of the figure to the elements' of the mediate row. These Vlateral elements 4a,

4b and 6a, 6b are of rectangular coniguration and have the same dimensions as the central elements. The assembly of panel-like elements, when `spread or lying in a common plane as shown in the lower portion of Fig. 1, will thus constitute a unitary structure having on the one hand adjacent transverse rows made of a central or mediate element 1 positioned between two lateral elements 4a, 4b or 6a, 6b, and on the other hand three longitudinal and juxtaposed rows, namely a mediate row of elements 1 and two lateral rows made of elements 4a, 4b and 6a, 6b, respectively. As shown in Fig. 2, the pivotal movement of the lateral elements 4b, 6b about their hinged connections 3, 5 in the direction of the arrows is limited by abutments 39 mounted on the -back face of the medial elements 1, so that the lateral elements cannot rotate beyond the spread position in which they lie in the plane of the mediate elements ,(see'` lower portion of Fig. 1). Moreover, the hinged connections 3, '5 are so arranged that a certain additionalforce is required to complete this pivotal movement, whereby when eachtransverserowisin .its spreadposition it wil1...nor mallytend to remainin this position. Thelateri'a'l .elements 4a, 4b are groupedto ,form .successivepairs'of adjacent ypanelspivotally attached through .hinged connections 7 with each other along ,their-longer.- sides. .The same `applies to .the .elements.6a,'6b of .the other. longitudinal row, Ialso connected by pairs through .hingemeans 8,r as shown. According to thisinvention and .considering the elements in the-longitudinal direction, i. e. from top-to bottom of `Fig. .1, the rst element 6a-of each pair v6a, '6b 'is hingedly connected to the same mediate element 1 as thesecond .element .4a..of .a .pair..of..elements 4a, 4b -o'f the other`.longitudinal.row. The.second element (4b or 6b) of each pair of lateral elementsis formed along its outer and. lower sideswith knuckles-engaged by pins v9, '10 in the .case of elements 4b and 11,.12.in the case of elements 6b. .The'flrstelement I(4a or '611) of each pair of lateral .elements carries onits upper and outer side hook means .13,.14'for elements 4a, -and.15, 16 'for elements 6a, these hook .means .being adaptedI to engage either the pins 10 .or 11, .orthe .pins 12 or9.

fInvFigs. 3., 4' and 5, 6 there is `shown respectively the configuration of van element 1 and an .element 4a .of a pair of elements 4a, 4b. These uigures illustrate more particularly substantially rectangular apertures 38 formed in the vicinity of the smaller sides and intended to engage other corresponding portions of .the assembly shown by way vof example.

.In Figs. 7 to'9 there is shown how, in the .position in which a pair of elements 6a, 6b folded back towards the preceding pair ofelements 4a, 4b (this yposition .being similarlto that'of the twol pairs .of elements .at the top .of Fig. 1), the pin 11- of element 6b interlocks .beneath the pin 9- of.element 4b. VEachpin 9 and 11 is formed at its lower end with abolt extension 37 .and atitsupper `end with a screwed head 42 having'intern'ally `ab'ol-tclasp configuration and externally a radial extension .17. Whenthe element 6b of Fig. '7 is rebatted underelement 4b, thehead '42 of element 6b engages .the bolt eXtension-"37 `ofelement 4b, as shown. Whena strongpull isexerted on the assembly of pin 11 placed end to end beneath pin 9 by acting. on the radialextension 17 of the head V42 of the lower element-6b,.this .head 42 will be .screwed on fthe upper, externally screwthreadedend ofpin '11. Actually, this pull is exerted on.the.radial extension 17, during an upward movement of the .'element assembly in the direction of the arrow, by. a helical .cam ygroove formed in ,a stationary member 18 included in those components ofthe device which are described hereafter.

lFigsflO to 1-4 illustrate the parts of the device according to the invention which enable the above-described assembly .in its wound condition to be either stowedand transported, or erected to constitute a rigid girder by .unwinding and folding it, and subsequently winding it up after its yutilization as a girder, respectively.

On one side of the -metal framework 19 are .mounted the barrel 20, cam members 40 and 41 and a guiding structure 21 forming the base of the yerected girder.

lFigure 14 shows .how the jointed-girder elements 1, 4a, 4b, 6a and l6b spread out flat, are erected ,into .aprismatic `girder duringa rising movement, by the successive .engaging of .alternate panels 4a.and 6a against two symrnetrical-rails .40 involving .the successiveffolding lback of the `pairs of panels alternatively 4a, 4b and 6a, 6b. During the descendirrgmovement, the spreading out vof the jointed assembly is eiectedby engaging the vpanels .6b and 4b against the two symmetricaltcontour rails' 41, similar to the rails- 40 but turned in lthe opposite direction.

Thebarrel k having its shaft.22 yjournalled in bearings 23 fast with the framework 19 is rotatably driven by a toothed wheel 24 throughihe control of a pair of lband 'brakes 25 operable to control rotation in opposite directions; this toothed wheel 24 is on the 4one handrotatably driven by a chain 26 engaginga driving pinion 27 to which adequate motion is imparted from Vany suitable mechanism, and on the otherhand fast with another pinion 29 driving through lanendlesschain .28 another pinion 30, both pinions '29 a11'd`30 being'journalled in xed positions on the frame structure. Drivings'lugs 31 adapted to engage the girder elements are provided in adequate space` relationship "on this chain '28.

The iframe-work has -detachably .mounted .thereon a metal frame structure consisting of section elements 32 interconnected by`ver'ticalposts `SVartd so fas to form around the closed girder a triangular structure. Rollers 34 are resiliently mounted on these posts, for example throughth'e, medium .of resilient washers '35.

In these figures thechain-dotted. lines show diagrammatically thegirder elements along .their path from vthe reelingbarrel 20 through the stretcherdevice36 tothe cam.members v-1'3.and then to the rollers 34 in the position `foren-gagement. by the Ilugs 31 of the jgirder-erecting chain 28, these lugs engaging .companion apertures 38 formed in .the elements (see Figs. 3 .and 5). TheV heads 17.resu,1ting from the closing of the lateral elements and the. interengagement of theend portions of the hinge pins arepressed by the earn-.member 18,; thus, the girderris adeliveredfin rigid form from its `guiding and supporting framework.

The framework structure may be provided with rollers or like elements for .transporting itfrom one site of ,erection to another.

Besides, this frameworkmay'be dismantled together withthe girderofthe .fixed framestructure .by resorting Ato adequateassembling meansA and .the .apparatus may .be .used fornerecting anothergirder.

-Whatl .claim-is:

V'.1. .An articulated-,beam vstructure comprising a rst setfofrectangular panels pivotally Iconnected to onefanother and .forming a row, successive lateral i pairs of similar panels `.pivotally connected to thel opposite lateral sides yof successive pairs oblpanels .of said .iirstset-in staggered relationship -with :thetpairs-of .panels of "the .otherset of lateral panels andrwith the rst panel of each lateraLpainopposite .the second panel of theother lateral pair, :the innersidesof the? panels of' each' successive pair ,of lateral panels having staggered '-:shackles cooperating with .complementary `staggered shackles at .the lateral sides. of thev panels .of the rst'setand la hinge pinextendingthroughsaidfshackles, .spaced shackles on the outer .fand lowersides .ofthe second panel ofeach lateral pair, a:.hinge .pin extending through vthe lastnamed shackles, spacedhook means on the .upper and outer sides .of the iirst .paneLof :.each :lateral pair, the spaced uppenhook means-being-adapted tocoact ywith the hingefpin of` the spaced shackles `of the. lowerside `of the adjacentfpanel :of .the next .successive pair and. said spaced outer hook A-1means..beir1g adapted-toengage thet pin of the .spaced shackles on the outertside ofrthe .corresponding opposite lateralpair, means for windingand unwinding said 'beam structure, means for .folding -saidlateral panelsv against each other during the unwinding operation, and means for spreading the lateral panels during: the .winding Operation.

.;2.I Anarticulatedbeam `as claimed in'claim A1 in which .each pin has a-.head .on .one-endyanda rotatably .and .axially movable. socket member on the other,.means.for ialternately .moving successive I pairs of panel members of Vthe vrespective rows .towardrone .another to engagev the heads on the 'pins in one lateral row 4in the socketmembers. onthejpinsin the other .lateral row, and means: for turning the socketimem-bersito 'move the pins yaxially .relative :to one zanother. to v .apply clamping. forces f inythe .longitudinal direction of .the xbeam.

.i3 Anxarticulatedwbeam-- structurez according -toclaimfL which `comprises stops rigidly carried by the lateral ends of each panel in the rst set to limit the spreading move- Iment of each l-ateral panel pivoted to said panel of the rst set 4to an extreme position in which `said lateral panel is co-planar with said panel of the rst set.

4. An articulated beam structure comprising a irst lset of rectangular panels pivotally connected along their adjacent long sides thereby forming Va row, successive lateral pairs of similar panels pivotally connected at their inner sides to the opposite lateral sides `of successive pairs of panels of said irst s-et in staggered relationship with the pairs of panels of the other set of lateral panels and -with the trst panel of each lateral pair opposite the second panel of the other lateral pair, lspa-ced shackles on the outer and lower lsides of the second panel of each lateral pair, a hinge pin extending through the shackles, spaced hook means on the upper and outer sides of the first panel of each lateral pair, the spaced upper hook means being adapted to coact with the hinge pin of the structure, -means for folding said lateral panels against4 each other during the unwinding operation, and means for spreading the lateral panels during the winding operation.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,057,942 Fay Oct. 20, 1936 2,130,993 Dubilier Sept. 20, 1938 2,143,953 Le Roy Jan. 17, 1939 2,620,904 Le Roy Dec. 9, 1952 2,661,082 Ziegler Dec. 1, 1953 

